Character types: young female roles (waka onnagata). Group affiliations: Masuya. Yamashita Yaozo I was a son of Yamashita Jirozo. In 1763 he became a student of Yamashita Kinsaku II and first appeared on stage by dancing shosagoto at the Mimasu Daigoro Theater in Osaka. In 1764 he played a young female role and danced shosagoto at Takeda Shibai in Osaka and was a big hit. Four years later he became a theater manager. He performed in Edo and Kyoto and moved back to Osaka. Then he went to Edo again In 1811, and he last performed as a role of courtesan (keisei yaku) at the Ichimura Theater. He was well suited for jidaimono and sewamono, and his performance and inflection (koseki) were good. He was a remarkably handsome man. He was active from 1763 to 1811. According to Ehon Butai Ogi, part of his first name, Yao-, is written in different chracters.